March 22nd- #Devotion #lent2015

During the season of Lent, I will be sharing a short post each day as part of the Lent-Photo-a-Day Journey, providing a sort of brief reflection and witness through the journey to and through the cross, to the tomb, and out into the world.

The word designated for March 22nd is “Devotion.”

Prayers to Saint Paul in St. Paul’s Cathedral Beyond the Walls in Rome

While I was in college I had the privilege to study abroad for a month in Italy. As you may know I double majored in economics and religion while in college. So it might make sense that I would study abroad in Italy for the religion major. Interestingly enough though, I was actually there as part of an economics course. That certainly didn’t keep me from taking in all of the sites.

Italy is full of history of all kinds, especially religious and primarily Catholic history. In thinking about devotion today I was reminded of the many relics and remains attributed to the saints that I saw while there. In St. Paul’s Cathedral (beyond the walls of Rome), the church is said to be home to the remains of St. Paul himself. In this picture you can see two of the faithful paying their respects to St. Paul. To be martyred for your faith is a type of devotion. So is to honor and respect those that have gone before you, and to even make pilgrimage.

How do you practice or experience devotion? What does devotion mean for you?